So you've got a drone, and a camera affixed to it. Now it's time to learn some ridiculous aerial acrobatics that will capture awesome video.

Anyone can shoot video. But not everyone can shoot interesting video—with aerial shots and POV footage that make you close your eyes until the feeling has passed. For that you need a drone. (Or a helicopter, which can be a little more expensive.) Master a few stunts and you enter a field of videography that's an obsession among pro-sports producers—and guys like Jeremy Moulton, a drone pilot for Sketch Pad Media in Austin, Texas. Here are a few tricks he uses with his favorite gear, a Blade 350 QX quadcopter ($420) and a Spektrum DX6i DSM2 transmitter ($140). Just don't add a camera until after you hone your skills.

The Stunts

Martin Laksman

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The Orbit

Skill Level: Easy

What It Is: The drone flies in a circle at low altitude around a center point.

When To Use It: To achieve that iconic Matrix circling-camera effect.

How To Do It: Gain a little altitude. With the drone facing you, choose a direction to orbit (e.g., counterclockwise). While holding altitude, move the left stick to the left while controlling orbit speed with the right stick. Hold steady.

Make It Easier: Fly the drone around another object, not yourself. That lets you focus without having to move your head. And go big. Tight, fast orbits are trickier than long, slow ones.

Martin Laksman

The Dive-Bomber

Skill Level: Medium

What It Is: The drone starts high and then suddenly swoops low.

When To Use It: To start with a high-angle shot and then speed past fleeing dwarfs in Middle Earth.

How To Do It: Begin at a comfortable altitude and speed. Move the left stick down to decrease throttle, which drops the drone. As it nears the ground, pull back on the right stick and throttle up with the left stick.

Make It Easier: Drill what Moulton calls rapid-altitude-loss recovery by switching quickly from Agility mode to Stability mode. Practice at high altitude before flying close to the ground.

Martin Laksman

The Flip

Skill Level: Hard

What It Is: The drone does a rapid backflip or front flip in midair

When To Use It: To mimic the first-person cockpit views from Top Gun—or any other classic dogfight flick.

How To Do It: Apply the throttle to gain speed and fly the drone straight up to about 20 feet. Move the right stick hard forward or backward for 1 second. As the drone is completing the flip, bring the right stick to center and recover balance.

Make It Easier: Switch to Stability mode immediately after the flip to automatically stabilize your drone. Double flips are far riskier, even for experienced pilots.